Cyberbullying is a growing problem for kids today. In fact, more than half of kids between the ages of 8 and 17 worry about cyberbullying according to a 2012 survey conducted by the Microsoft Corporation. And nearly four out of 10 kids have experienced some type of online bullying.
Yet, surprisingly parents are not talking to their kids about it. The survey found that although kids want to talk to parents about the issue, less than half of parents are actually talking about cyberbullying. In fact, 71% of kids say their parents have never talked to them about how to stay safe online.
I was shocked by this fact. With so many suicides recently attributed to cyberbullying, I thought more parents would be talking about online safety and cyberbullying. But it's just not happening.
My guess is that parents don't know where to start. Our kids are technologically savvy and we're not. So talking about using technology safely feels out of our comfort zone.
But comfort zone or not, the conversation needs to happen. In fact, it's never too early to start talking with our kids about how to stay safe online. Even young kids can learn the basics. For instance, kids who are using simple online programs like Webkinz can learn not to share their password and that they shouldn't accept friend requests from people they don't know.
If you want to talk with your kids about cyberbullying and staying safe online, but don't know where to start, check out my articles 5 Types of Cyberbullying and How to Keep Your Kids Safe from Cyberbullying. Don't let the issue intimidate you. Have that conversation with your kids today.
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